YouTube TV vs Sling TV: Which Do You Prefer?

So, you've decided to cut the cable TV cord to save money and reduce inconvenience, but you don't want to miss live news and sports. Or, you have Netflix, Amazon Prime, and Disney Plus but still want to boost your binge-watching sessions with live Television networks.

YouTube TV and Sling TV are two of the best live TV streaming services; both enable you to dump your cable box by streaming various channels to your Roku, Amazon Fire TV, Apple TV, or smart TV.

Sling and YouTube TV are excellent choices, but you only want to choose one to subscribe to, right? Before deciding between Sling TV and YouTube TV, there are some factors to consider. This article will compare Sling TV vs YouTube TV to help you choose which service is best for your family.

Section 1: YouTube TV vs Sling TV Comparison

Sling TV and YouTube TV are, without a doubt, the two best streaming options available. It's reasonable to be confused if you have to choose between the two. Here's a comparison of Sling TV vs YouTube TV, to help you decide which is better.

1.1 Price

The first significant difference between Sling and YouTube TV is their monthly price plans. YouTube TV offers a complete basic bundle package with a single pricing tier. On the other hand, Sling TV competes with a much lower monthly charge and three different base package options.

If you aim to save the most money possible, Sling TV would be the most cost-effective option. Instead of comparing it to YouTube TV, users on a tight budget may want to look at some of the other live TV streaming options on the market.

1.2 Channel Lineup

The good news is that both YouTube TV and Sling TV provide access to some of the best "cable" channels available. The confusing thing is that Sling may need you to sign up for a color-coded bundle or add-on to access a channel included in YouTube TV's base channel list.

While signing up for YouTube TV gives you the same basic package as everyone else, signing up for Sling needs you to make some decisions. You can choose between Sling Orange, Sling Blue, and Sling Orange + Blue. There are also other add-on possibilities.

Local channels may be a problem for some Sling TV subscribers. While YouTube TV provides access to ABC, NBC, CBS, and FOX in most areas of the country, Sling TV will likely fall short of providing local affiliate stations.

From the channel lineup below, you can see that only NBC and FOX affiliates are available on Sling TV with the Blue and Orange + Blue packages. Therefore, you are completely out of luck if you want to watch ABC and CBS on Sling.

You will need to enter your ZIP code on each of their websites to get precise information about the local channels and regional sports networks that they offer.

1.3 Cloud DVR

Cloud DVR functionality is the second most important feature of TV streaming services after pricing and channel selection. Recording what you like and watching it when you want is a big benefit.

This is one of the areas where YouTube TV dominates. YouTube TV provides free unlimited storage to its users. YouTube TV has long been one of the greatest streaming services in the Cloud DVR category.

On the other hand, Sling only provides 50 hours of cloud DVR storage with each plan. For an extra $5 per month, you can add 200 hours of cloud DVR storage if you subscribe for the DVR Plus upgrade.

1.4 Supported Devices

YouTube TV and Sling TV are compatible with the most available streaming devices. Below are TV devices that are compatible with YouTube and Sling TV.

The following TV devices are supported by YouTube TV:

• Apple TV 4K and Apple TV 4th generation
• Amazon Fire TV products
• Chromecast with Google TV devices
• Android TV
• Vizio SmartCast TVs
• Samsung and LG smart TVs (2016 models and newer)
• Hisense TVs
• Xbox: Xbox Series X, Xbox Series S, Xbox One X, Xbox One S, and Xbox One
• PS5 and PS4
• TiVo Stream 4K
• Roku

Sling TV supports the following TV devices:

• AirTV
• Amazon Fire TV
• Android TV
• Apple TV
• Chromecast with Google TV
• Facebook Portal
• LG TV
• Roku devices
• Samsung Smart TV
• TiVo Stream 4K
• Xbox One and Xbox Series X
• VIZIO SmartCast Smart TVs

1.5 Simultaneous Streams

Suppose you want to watch on many TVs or smart devices simultaneously; which of those two streaming services is the best option? For Sling TV, it depends on the bundle you choose because each Sling TV bundle provides a different number of simultaneous streams.

YouTube TV has a standard policy of three simultaneous streams per account, but Sling allows between one, three, or four. If you're considering Sling Orange for your home, keep in mind that it only supports a single stream at the same time. This could be problematic if there are many televisions in the home.

YouTube TV now supports six user profiles per account, making it easier to personalize favorites, organize DVR libraries, and establish parental controls for each family member. Meanwhile, one of Sling TV's shortcomings is that it only supports one user profile per account.

Section 2: YouTube TV vs Sling TV Pros and Cons

Here are the pros and cons of YouTube TV vs Sling TV.

2.1 YouTube TV

Pros

• There are no extra fees.
• Supports many sports channels.
• Supports 720p resolution.
• Has a channel guide.

Cons

• Expensive
• It has commercials. However, you can skip them with the DVR.
• The DVR is cloud-based. It makes it impossible to view shows while traveling or without mobile data.

2.2 Sling TV

Pros

• Cheaper and provide many packages.
• Supports 720p resolution.
• Has a channel guide.
• Improved user experience.

Cons

• Sling TV requires additional costs for Cloud DVR upgrades, on-demand movies, and channel add-ons.
• Has fewer sports channels.
• It has commercials. To skip them, you must get on-demand movies and pay about $3 to $6 per movie.
• Confusing channel bundles.
• Cloud-based DVR. You cannot watch its content when you're not connected to the internet.

Section 3: Watch and Download Sling TV Videos With StreamFab DRM MPD Downloader

As mentioned previously, you cannot watch Sling TV shows or sports without the internet. Therefore, we will introduce you to a third-party DRM MPD downloader app allowing you to download and watch Sling TV shows and movies without needing an internet connection, whenever and wherever you want.

StreamFab DRM MPD Downloader is an app that allows you to download content from live TV streaming services and save them as 1080p MP4/MKV videos. You can download videos from Sling TV and numerous streaming services, like Starz, AMC+, SHOWTIME, and others. Additionally, this application allows you to remove advertisements and enjoy uninterrupted watching.

Below are more benefits you will get by using StreamFab DRM MPD Downloader:

• Depending on the source video quality and your personal preference, the resolution of the downloaded videos can range up to 1080p HD.
• Download videos with subtitles in the languages you understand, so you don't get lost between the lines.
• Download more videos in bulk at lightning-fast speeds.
• Compatible with Windows and Mac devices.

It is effortless to obtain all of these benefits. Simply download and install this DRM MPD video downloader app on your device. To download the app, you can visit the StreamFab website. Then, proceed as instructed below to download Sling TV shows or sports content.

• Navigate to the Sling TV website and the video you want to save. Then, copy the video link.
• Open the StreamFab app, paste the URL into the top address bar on the Homepage and access it using the built-in browser.

• When the playback begins, click the "Download" button in the top-left corner of the playback screen.
• In the next popup window, select your preferred resolution.
• Then click the final "Download" button to begin the download process.

• The downloaded video will automatically be saved to your device, and you can enjoy the video without interruptions.

Summary

You now understand the differences, pros, and cons of Sling TV and YouTube TV. So, Sling vs YouTube TV, which one do you prefer? Before deciding whether you want to subscribe to Sling TV or YouTube TV, you must consider your budget and the number of devices that will be used to access the TV service.

If you have a lot of TVs at home and need unlimited DVR storage, YouTube is the way to go because it offers greater benefits than Sling TV. However, no matter which one you choose, you can easily download and then watch videos from those two platforms without an internet connection by using StreamFab DRM MPD Downloader.